Online Journal ISSN : 2347 - 9671 www . epratrust.com

April 2014 Vol - 2 Issue- 4

LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IN TOURISM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WOMEN AT REGION IN , , INDIA

Mr. Joseph PD*

* Assistant Professor in Tourism Studies, University, Mangalagangotri - 574 199, Karnataka, India.

ABSTRACT

he tourism sector is always deferred with a huge potential for growth, and Tthus become crucial not only for the nations, but also for the entire international community. The tourism proved to be one of the most effective means of job creation and the economic development of local communities. Tourism has shown that the potential for the creation of jobs and the promotion of income-generating activities in favour of the local and regional authorities. Certainly tourism offers many gateways for the employment of women and the possibilities of job creation independent of the small and medium- sized income generating activities, the creation of railway undertakings after the removal of the poverty of the women and of the municipalities in the developing countries. Tourism provides employment opportunities in a large number. Today, millions of women are a part of the tourism industry, both directly and indirectly. The tourism industry has contributed positively to the empowerment of women in India and throughout the world. The presence of women is seen in all sectors of tourism industry such as hotels, airlines, tour operator and travel services. Tourism development aims at improving the lives of people living in the local surroundings through responsible tourism. Studies show that in Kerala, the participation of women in tourism development activities is increasing and this has resulted in the overall development of the local community. This study includes a detail view of the participation of women in the tourism development of Bekal Fort area and understanding the problems faced by women in this sector. The researchers have used both primary and secondary data to evaluate the role of women in tourism in the study area. A self-structured questionnaire was distributed among www.epratrust.com April 2014 Vol - 2 Issue- 4 41 EPRA International Journal of Economic and Business Review ISSN : 2347 - 9671 100 local women who are residing at the Bekal Fort area to draw the conclusions. It is revealed from the study that the participation of women in tourism in the study area is pretty less compared to the other sectors of the economy. KEYWORDS: Women Participation, Tourism Development, Employment, Social Development. INTRODUCTION

Tourism in India is the largest service neighboring state of Karnataka. The district industry, with a contribution of 5.9% to the of Kasaragod, blessed with high tourism national GDP and this creates 8.78% of the resources, is trying its level best to develop total employment in India. According to the its potentials in order to position itself in the statistics published by Dept. of Tourism, tourism market. Govt. of India, India received 6.58 million TOURISM AND LOCAL PARTICIPATION foreign tourists in 2012 against 6.29 million in 2011with a growth rate of 4.3%. Our This study on understanding the foreign exchange earnings from tourism has extend of local community participation, reached to USD 17.74 billion in 2012 with a mainly women will be of high relevance, growth rate of 7.1% annually against USD particularly in a district like Kasaragod 16.56 billion in 2011 and this is expected to which has developed over recent years by increase to USD37.55 billion by 2018 at a utilizing its tourism potentials to the core. 9.4% annual growth rate. In spite of all these Local community participation in tourism facts, India’s share in the international is one of the important factors leading to the tourist arrival is 0.64% and India ranks at growth of tourism projects in Kasaragod the 41th position in the world tourism district. This study will be beneficial to the scenario. stakeholders of the tourism industry, including the investors, employees, Until the early 1980s, Kerala government, etc. This study will bring out was a relatively unknown destination, with the changes that have brought into the lives most tourism circuits concentrated around of people in through the the north of the country. Aggressive various tourism projects both economic as marketing campaigns launched by the well as social. Kerala Tourism Development Corporation the government agency that oversees Kasaragod being the northernmost tourism prospects of the state laid the district in the state has been facing ignorance foundation for the growth of the tourism in all the development projects and budgets industry. In the decades that followed, of the government. The various projects that Kerala Tourism was able to transform itself have been established in the district are a into one of the niche holiday destinations in boon to the Kasaragod to achieve overall India. The tag line Kerala- God’s Own development. Country was adopted in its tourism Government of India in an effort to promotions and became a global super develop potential beach locations, which brand. (2006). Among could be developed as international the fourteen districts of Kerala, Kasargod is standard beach destinations had the western the northern most district bordering the cost, surveyed in 1990. The survey identified www.epratrust.com April 2014 Vol - 2 Issue- 4 42 ISSN : 2347 - 9671  Mr. Joseph PD Bekal the village in Kasaragod district in the this paper is expected to obtain a result northern most part of Kerala as potential which would be beneficial to all the locale for the development of beach resort stakeholders of the tourism industry. The destination. The Bekal coastal area has been study mainly focuses on women’s declared as the India’s first planned beach involvement in the tourism sector and the destination. In 1992 the Government of India benefits they receive by involving in the declared, Bekal as ‘Special Tourism Area’ for activities of the tourism industry. integrated resort development. Thereafter OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Government of Kerala entrusted a multidisciplinary team consisting of  To understand the present scenario planners, landscape architects, urban and of tourism industry in general; transport specialists, structural consultants and tourism, leisure industry experts with  To examine the role of local the preparation of project of project community involvement in general blueprint for the development of Bekal. In and women’s participation in 1995 Bekal Resort Development Corporation particular in the development of was formed for the implementation of the tourism; Bekal Tourism Project.  To evaluate the extend of women’s The Bekal Project envisages setting participation in tourism development up of an integrated beach destination at and Bekal, with the objective of developing  To suggest measures to increase tourism including social infrastructure in the women’s participation in tourism region. BRDC conducted systematic surveys development. of the region through CESS (Centre for Earth METHODOLOGY Science Studies) and has developed 76 hectares (189 acres) of land that is ideal for Both primary and secondary data setting up resorts. Many new hotels and were used to attain the objectives of the resorts of large groups have been established study. Primary data are collected to obtain in the district in and around the Bekal area the direct opinion of the people in the study as well as on the beach sides. The area. This helps in understanding extend of development of various tourism products women’s participation in tourism has been highly beneficial to the local development of Bekal region. community and these people living around the destination has shown a positive Primary data were collected by approach towards these development distributing questionnaires to women in the projects. area of study and interviews with the local people. A study is done among various This study is confined to selected families in and around Bekal area. Sample areas of the district of Kasaragod which is area selected for the study were various blessed with many tourism resources which Panchayaths of Kasaragod district, namely are being developed rapidly in order to Uduma, Pallikkara, and also 2 Wards attract large number of tourists. As there are in Municipality. Questionnaires only limited studies being conducted on this were distributed among women in selected aspect of women’s participation in tourism, families in the area to know if they involve www.epratrust.com April 2014 Vol - 2 Issue- 4 43 EPRA International Journal of Economic and Business Review ISSN : 2347 - 9671 directly or indirectly in tourism 3. It is found that the local community of development activities of Kasaragod district. Bekal is not aware of the benefits tourism The population in this area mainly development can bring into their lives and constitutes of the people living in the coastal the local community as well and this makes area. them less interested in participating in Questionnaires were administered in tourism development activities local Language () for the better 4. Many of the women in Bekal are not going understanding of the sample group for any job and are happy as homemakers, involved in the study. Questionnaires were and a negligible number of women out of distributed to 100 households in the study the few who go for job are only involved in area to be filled by the women to know their tourism related jobs. interest and involvement in the tourism sector and survey was conducted during a 5. The women’s community of Bekal are not period of one week in March 2012. well educated and are not aware enough to Information was also collected from the local do any tourism related job. Local women in people through interview method. Bekal believe that tourism related jobs provide enough safety & security to women The researcher depended on secondary and are suitable for them as well. data to gather conceptual and theoretical knowledge about the local community 6. Though the women in Bekal know that involvement in general and women’s Bekal is a major tourist attraction of India, participation in the tourism sector in they are not interested in knowing how the particular.Secondary data were collected local community can be benefited through from various sources such as websites, tourism development. brochures and magazines. Various abstracts based on local community involvement in 7. Women working in tourism related jobs tourism were also referred to get secondary in Bekal are mainly doing unskilled jobs data. A simple description of the facts in such as a housemaid at the resort or in the terms of frequencies and percentages has small shops near to Bekal Fort. Almost all been used for the purpose of the analysis. the skilled or technical jobs related to tourism development are handled by men, At the end of the study, the researchers among whom many are from Kasaragod have drawn out the following major findings district itself. based on the empirical evidences collected through the various methods. 8. Family restrictions and lack of time are the major reasons behind women in Bekal MAJOR FINDINGS not participating in tourism development activities. 1. The local women population mainly 9. People of Bekal believe that tourism belongs to Hindu and Muslim community development has increased employment 2. The involvement of local community in opportunities for both men & women to a tourism development activities is less in certain extend. Women working in tourism Bekal and people are involved in other jobs related jobs are highly satisfied with their such as fishing and agriculture work environment and this job is the main source of family income for many of them. www.epratrust.com April 2014 Vol - 2 Issue- 4 44 ISSN : 2347 - 9671  Mr. Joseph PD 10. Families living very close to the Bekal 4. BRDC needs to take steps to solve the Fort are unhappy with the activities of the problems faced by the local people due to BRDC (Bekal resort Development the stay imposed by the Government on Corporation) as they do not allow these their property. people to do any construction work on their 5. Seminars should be conducted for the own land or even for the renovation of their students in the local schools to increase their houses. This has led to the grievance of the knowledge about the importance of tourism local community against BRDC. to the local community thus ensuring 11.Women staying nearby the resorts are increased participation by the future supplying various products to resorts such generation. as vegetables, flowers and milk, which helps 6. Activities of women’s organizations such them in earning a good income. as Kudumbasree should be strengthened by SUGGESTIONS focusing on involvement in tourism related jobs such as opening of a restaurant or home 1. Government needs to take steps to educate stays. the women in Bekal about the benefits 7. There is a need to change the mentality of tourism development can bring to the local the local people towards tourism and the community and thus create a desire within women already working in tourism can do them to take part in tourism development this by describing their own experience and activities. Special talks and lectures should the benefits they have received from the be organized for the local women by industry. bringing successful women entrepreneurs in tourism from other districts of Kerala. 8. Women can also engage in various jobs from their home itself, such as preparing 2. Participation of women in the tourism homemade snacks and pickles and development of Bekal region can be supplying to the nearby shops. increased by providing more employment opportunities to the women. Government 9. People in local area need to give more attention on improving their language skills should provide financial assistance or and also learning about the history of Bekal subsidies for the women who are interested by which they can work as tour guides. in starting their own tourism related business. Women in the area should be 10. More students should be encouraged to encouraged to start Home Stays by the do courses providing specialized, in assistance of BRDC in its promotion tourism, which would ensure them a high profile job in their locality itself. 3. The local bodies in the area should give more care in involving the local women in CONCLUSION tourism development and a special Bekal is India’s first planned beach committee must be formed to monitor the destination and Government of India has participation of women. The employers also identified Bekal as a potential site for an need to take special interest to recruit their international standard beach destination. In staffs from the local community itself 1992, Government of India declared Bekal www.epratrust.com April 2014 Vol - 2 Issue- 4 45 EPRA International Journal of Economic and Business Review ISSN : 2347 - 9671 as a special tourist area and since then Bekal 3. The Hindu, 2004, ”Kerala Tourism: Paradises is getting much attention in tourism in the world” - Online edition of India’s development.It is proven that tourism is one National Newspaper, Retrieved on 20-02-14 of the most effective means to drive job 4. Tourist statistics for Kerala (2006),Tourism creation and economic development in local Statistics and lpu. Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Retrieved on 20-02-145. communities and no tourism development Government of Kerala(2006), Kerala Tourism activity can succeed without the support and – Superbrand . Superbrand status of Kerala cooperation from the local community. This Tourism brand. Retrieved on 20-02-14 research study was aimed to understand the 6. Kerala tourism -retrieved on 13.12.2012 from involvement of local community women in http://www.tourismkerala.org the tourism development activities of Bekal 7. Kerala tourism -retrieved on 13.12.2012 from region. It is found that the participation of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ local women in tourism development in Tourism_in_Kerala Bekal is less and women in this area do not 8. Census details of Kerala retrieved on show much interest in the development of 25.12.2012 from www.census2011.co.in/ tourism in their area. There is a need to census/district/271-kasaragod.html 9. Benefits of tourism to local community- educate the women in the Bekal region retrieved on 14.12.2012 from about the importance of developing tourism www.tourismexcellence.com.au/Growing- and the benefits it would bring to them. The Destinations/Benefits-of-Tourism.html researchers thus conclude that more support 10. How tourism benefits local communities- and participation from the side of local retrieved on 14.12.2012 from www.tq.com.au/ community women should be ensured in resource-centre/community-engagement/how- order to achieve the goal of developing tourism-benefits-communities/how-tourism- Bekal as an international beach destination. benefits-communities_home.cfm 11. Tourism Development in Local Communities: REFERENCES As a Community Development Approach- 1. UNWTO- Tourism Highlights- 2013 Edition- retrieved on 25.12.2012 from http:// www.jofamericanscience.org/journals/am-sci/ Facts & Figures section at mkt.unwto.org am0602/2615Communities_am0602.pdf 2. Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, India 12. Information about BRDC- retrieved on Tourism Statistics at a Glance 2012. 15.12.2012 from www.keralatourism.org/ bekal/brdc.php

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